iPhone 15 Plus review: Apple's best value for long battery life and a big screen, based on our extensive testing

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After many months of testing and daily use, the iPhone 15 Plus remains an easy recommendation for anybody considering it.

The iPhone 15 Plus is the larger version of the iPhone 15, and both offer more meaningful new features and updates than we've seen for base iPhone models in recent years. The two phones are nearly identical in specs, design, and performance, except the iPhone 15 Plus has a bigger screen and longer battery life — two highly appealing selling points. For a small premium, the iPhone 15 Plus is every bit as good as the iPhone 15, but better.

Apple started offering "Plus" models with the iPhone 14 series, and they're attractive for those who prefer larger screens but can't justify the higher pricing of Apple's Pro Max. Indeed, the iPhone 15 Plus is one of the best iPhones you can buy for its long-lasting performance and value; even as new models are on the horizon, you can't go wrong now with the iPhone 15 Plus.

Design and performance: Refreshed and powerful, but it won't support Apple's AI

Apple made subtle design changes, like softer edges and a frosted glass texture on the rear. They make the iPhone 15 Plus feel more secure to hold than the clear glass used in previous generations, and it is the lightest large iPhone ever made, weighing 7.09 ounces. 

According to Apple, the color has been "infused" into the glass, which creates a pastel-looking shade instead of a brighter hue.

Yet, none of these design changes will matter if you find large phones unwieldy, or if you equip the phone with a case, which we recommend. (See our guide to the best iPhone 15 Plus cases for top options from our testing.) 

Compared to the iPhone 14 Plus, the notch at the top of the screen has been replaced on the iPhone 15 Plus by the Dynamic Island, and the camera gets a fantastic 48MP sensor and a 2x zoom. These features — trickled down from the Pro models — bring a freshness to the experience of using a base model iPhone that we haven't seen in a long time. 

The iPhone 15 Plus uses the A16 processor introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. For everyday use, the performance should be more than sufficient and hold up for several years before you need an upgrade; Apple will support this phone for at least five years, if not more.

However, the iPhone 15 Plus and its A16 chip will not support the upcoming AI features in iOS 18, as Apple Intelligence will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models among Apple's current phones. The base iPhone 15 devices also lack certain design enhancements of the Pro models, like the new Action button.

Connectivity: Goodbye Lightning, hello USB-C

The most impactful change with this generation's iPhones is the switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging and connectivity. Not only does it conform to an industry-standard connector — no more separate Lightning cables for charging or data transfer — but it lets you connect to a variety of accessories without a special adapter. For example, you can plug a USB-C monitor directly into the iPhone 15 Plus to use as a larger display. This change also means almost all Apple devices now use USB-C, including Mac computers and iPads.

The downside is that the iPhone 15 Plus' USB-C connection only supports the slower USB 2 protocol. This means data transfers won't be as quick as the USB 3 protocol that the iPhone 15 Pro models support, like when you back up your phone's data or transfer photos to a computer. Another con: If you've invested in many Lightning-based cables and accessories and want to continue using them, you may need a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter.

Apple no longer provides charging adapters with new iPhones, but it does include a USB-C cable. Since the iPhone 15 Plus supports fast charging of up to around 20 watts, we recommend picking up one of these best iPhone USB-C chargers or using one you might already own for another device. The iPhone 15 Plus also supports wireless and MagSafe charging.

Battery life: Still the best among any smartphone

Battery life is the iPhone 15 Plus' strength, and it beats every phone we've tested so far, whether iPhone or Android. Only the iPhone 14 Plus compares with an identical 73% battery life after our battery test. For reference, the iPhone 15 Pro Max finished the test with 69% remaining, and the standard iPhone 15 ended with 66%.

Most phones these days, whether small or larger, finish the test with a battery percentage in the low 60s, with anything beyond 65% being an exceptional result. So, the iPhone 15 Plus' 73% result is mind-blowing. 

If your screen-on time is typically low (around one to two hours), there's a good chance you can get two days from a single charge. For those with three or four hours of typical screen-on time, the iPhone 15 Plus may not dramatically change your charging habits, but it'll likely end your day with a higher battery percentage.

The battery test involves a blend of light and heavy workloads, which we simulate with benchmarking tools and commonly used apps, like YouTube and a music streaming service. Each phone runs two instances of the 3D Mark Wildlife Stress Test, five runs of the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark test, two hours of video streaming at a set brightness, and one hour of music streaming while connected to a Bluetooth speaker.

Display: Improved resolution and brightness

Besides battery, the other main reason for picking the iPhone 15 Plus over the iPhone 15 is the larger 6.7-inch display. Apple upgraded the resolution slightly from the iPhone 14 Plus, and the iPhone 15 Plus is also brighter when viewed indoors and outdoors. 

The refresh rate remains 60Hz, which is a bit low-end when the base iPhone is considered a premium smartphone. But, it shouldn't affect normal usage, and you may not even notice the deficiency unless you view it next to a 120Hz display like the iPhone 15 Pro's.

At 6.7 inches — the same screen size as the iPhone 15 Pro Max — the iPhone 15 Plus' extra screen space doesn't necessarily add functionality, as you don't get extra icons or other display items than you would with the standard iPhone 15. 

Rather, you simply get an enlarged version of what you see on the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 15 — beneficial for anyone who may be visually impaired or if they just want to make it easier to see what's on the screen. The real advantage comes when viewing videos, photos, graphs, and tiny details like small fonts. 

Should you buy it?

For $100 more than the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus gets you a larger display and a long-lasting battery at a starting price of $899. For many people, that's an incredible value that justifies the premium, and if you prefer a larger phone, we highly recommend the iPhone 15 Plus.

Much like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus is a solid phone that more than covers the basics that most people need. With an upgraded processor and new features like Dynamic Island and USB-C, it offers a compelling reason for older iPhone owners to upgrade.

Compared to the Pro models, there are shortcomings, like an outdated 60Hz refresh rate, a slower processor, and a dual-lens camera. But when you consider the significant price difference between the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro, we find most of these shortcomings to be perfectly acceptable for most people. In fact, the performance and the camera quality will more than satisfy everyday use. 

With all this said, Apple will likely announce new iPhones, the predicted iPhone 16 series, in September. If you don't absolutely need a new phone right away, you'd do well to wait a couple of months to see what the next iPhone Plus model holds. Even if you don't necessarily want to wait for the latest and greatest, Apple will probably drop the iPhone 15 Plus' price by $100, exactly like it did with the iPhone 14 Plus, which is still available to buy. 

However, if you need a new phone now, the iPhone 15 Plus is a surefire high-value option for fans of large-screen phones.